Safety razor



NOV. 19, 1940.Y G R, BOTT 2,222,308

.v SAFETY RAZOR y Filed July 11, 1956 2 sheets-sheet 1- INV ENT OR,

G. R. BoTT SAFETY RAZOR Nov. 19, 1940.

Filed July 117, 193s 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. jia

y Vlg# Patented Nov. 19, 19.40

UNITED .SB'IA'TESl SAFETY RAZOR George R. Bott, Stamford, Conn.; The Stamford Trust Company executor of said George R.

Bott, deceased Application July 11, 1936, Serial No. 90,060

-21 Claims.

The present invention relates to safety razors and has forv an object to provide an improved construction of mechanical or motor operated safety razor adapted particularly forv close shaving without the use of soap, cream and the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mechanicalv safety razor wherein the cutting is effected by a shearing action as in the operation of shears and wherein the cutting edges are completely enclosed or encased and only rounded edges are presented to the exterior of the razor for contact with the skin and surrounding objects.

The invention also embodies certain detailed characteristics in the structure of the razor adapting it for easy operation by an electrical motor so as to combine with the motor in providing a body portion serving as a handle for the razor and enclosure for the motor and other parts of the device, all of which may be readily manufactured and as easily assembled.

The invention has for a still furtherobject a peculiar combination of a guard, a comb and a cutter housed between them and wherein the cutter and comb teeth are relatively beveled, in-

clind and spaced apart with respect to the teeth of the separate elements to obtain a relatively close dry shave by a shearing or clipping action which takes place at the beveled juncture of the comb and cutter, and wherein the cutting edge may be continuous or toothed and at the same time be completely housed, and encased by the guard and comb.

With the foregoing and'other objects in View, the invention will be more Vfully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Figure l is a longitudinal section taken through a power operated razor embodying the features of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a similar View taken on the axis d 2 2 of Figure l at right angles thereto.

Figure 3 is atransverse section taken through the inner end of the razor on the line 3 3 of Figure l and looking toward the vibrator elements of the motor.

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken through the outer end portion of the razor on the line llof Figure 2 and looking toward the exible motion converting brushes.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary outer end view of the razor, looking toward the guard and showing the beveled arrangement of th cutter and comb with respect to the exterior surface of the guard.

Figure 6 is a detail plan view of the inner end cap removed from the razor casing.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary enlarged plan View of a portion of the outer edge razor structure showing the guard, cutter and comb in their relative positions and with the exposed edges of the cutter rounded and with the cutting edges disposed against the comb and being inclined wtih respect to the teeth of the comb.

Figure '7a. is a section taken on line la-'la of Figure 7.

Figure 8 is a transverse section taken through the cutter and comb on line 8--8 of Figure 7 showing the transversely inclined throats between the cutter and comb teeth.

Figure 9 is an enlarged transverse section taken through the razor structure as applied to the flesh, the section being taken substantially on the line 9 9 of structure shown in Figure 7, and

Figure l0 is a diagram of a motor circuit which may be used for operation of the razor.

Referring now to the drawings, and rst to Figures l to 4, a casing or housing 2B is adapted to carry therein the elctric motor or other operating device for the razor. This casing is made of suitable length and at its outer end portion is preferably enlarged and flared and provided with a plurality oi flutes or ribs 2| to facilitate holding or grasping of the razor for operation. The casing or housing 20 is provided at its lower end with a removable cap 22 of any suitable construction and configuration to provide a continuation of the housing and to facilitate access to the motor and other parts of the casing.

The upper end .of the housing 2li is relatively fiat and serves as a support for an annular comb 23 secured to the casing by screws 24 or the like. The comb 23 has outstanding teeth 25 which project beyond the casing '20 and are adapted for direct contact with the skin or flesh over which the razor is operated. The upper end of the` casing 2D is recessed to provide a cavity or chamber 2S within which is placed an internally toothed ratchet ring 21 provided with a hub 28 for supporting thering in the recess 2S. The hub '28 is rotatably mounted on a pin 29 which is recessed and internally threaded at its outer end for the reception of a correspondingly threaded stud 30 which has a. keried head 3l abutting the outer end of the hub 28 and which carries as a part thereof a guard plate 32 which in the combination is an integral part of head 3|. The guard 32 may be given any suitable configuratherewith. A radial spring spider 34 fitted over the hub and held in yielding engagement with the cutter 33 by a lock or snap ring 35 carried by the hub 28 as shown. Rotation of the hub 28 with its ratchet ring 21 thus causes the cutter 33 to turn against the comb 23 and free from` the guard 32. The cutter 33 is pressed against the comb' 23 and is in shearing action therewith.

While any suitable means may be employed for rotating the cutter disc 33, in the present instance a vibrating or reciprocating electric motor is illustrated with exible brushesv cooperating with the ratchet ring 21 to convert the vibratory action of the motor into rotary motion of the hub and cutter. and claimed in my co-pending application.

For the purpose of illustration, the motor referred to comprises a field coil 36 which at its inner end is provided with a spacing bracket 31 to which is secured a micarta base disc orplate 38 constructed and proportioned to t in the inner end and the housing 20 and against the snap `into the opposite shouldered sides of the crossbar 48 beneath the hub 28. The snap spring arms 39 serve to lock the motor in position on the crossbar 40.l ,On the end ofthe magnet 36 is mounted a pair of vibrating armatures 4I. The

armatures 4I extend lengthwise of the opposite sides of the magnet 36 and at their lower endsl are reduced and extend through slots 42 provided in the base disc 38, as shown in Figure'l. These armatures 4l have curved supporting springs 43 at their upper 4ends so that the armatures 4I may swing in a iiatwise direction on the springs 43 under vibratory action of the magnet 36., The

, lower ends of the armatures 4l are interconnected by spring 44 which is arched toward one side of the housing or cap and carries a vibrator point 45 cooperating with an adjustable screw point 46, the latter being mounted in a post 41 secured 4to and depending from thebase disc 38. The post l 41 is connected in an electric circuit, in which a condenser 48 is included which may be mounted upon the outer side of the base disc 38 within the bracket 31 and suitablyl connected to the magnet coil 36 as showngin Figure 10. Current may be introduced to the motor in any suitable manner such as by 'an' electric cord or cable 491` the wires of which lead to separable connector parts 50 mounted withinthedetachable cap 22 and which. engage correspondingly separable connector` parts I which are carried upon the lower side of the base disc 38. Thus when the cap 22 1s snapped up into position on the housing 20 This type of motor is disclosed the separable elements 50 and 5| of theconnectors are automatically' brought. into engagement with each other so as to complete the circuit wiring through the motor.

Each armature 4| is provided with a bracket 52. The bracket 52 extends in an edgewise direction from the adjacent armature 4l, and preferably adjacent the spring portion 43 of the armature. The bracket 52 is bent at right angles about the side of the magnet 36 and extends outwardly into the recess 26 and into the cavity ofthe ratchet ring 21. Brush holders 53 are mounted upon the outer ends of the brackets 52 and carry flexible brushes 54 of flexible bronze wire or th'e like which are adapted to'engage and operate against the internal ratchet teeth of the L ring 21.

With reference to Figures 5 to 9, it will be noted that the guand 32. the teeth of the cutter 33, and the teeth 25 of the comb are all beveled or lie at their outer exposed faces in substantially a common plane. From Figure '7 particularly it will be noted that the teeth of th'e cutter 33 have rounded or non-cutting outer edges 33a while their cuttingA or shearing edges 33b are disposed inwardly of the cutter teeth and lie and operate against the lower or edged half of the teeth of the comb. It will be noted from Figure 7 that the bevelling Ais on the front surfaces of the cutter` practically no resharpening or these razor elements is required. It will also be noted from. Figure '7 that the cutting edge of the cutter teeth 33 is disposed at a different angle from the cutting edge of the comb teeth 25 with which the cutter teeth cooperate so that in operation there is ashearing cutting action between the teeth.r Furthermore, as shown in Figure 8 particularly, the throats 55 between the cutter teeth 33 and combv teeth 25 are diagonally or transversely inclined so as to increase the holding effect on the entrapped hair which has entered betwee the comb and cutter teeth.

In operation, the motor vibrates the armatures 4I which in turn vibrate the bracket arms 52 and the brushes 54. The result is that the vibration of the brushes which operate against the internal ratchet ring 21 causes the latter to turn slowly, such as in the direction shown by the arrow in ,Figure 4. The rotation of theA ring 21 turns its hub 28 and consequently turns the cutter 33 which is mounted on the hub.

As shown inv Figure 9, the inner faces of the be observed that the comb teeth 25and the cutter v teeth 33 are provided with their sharp or shearing edges in the planeof contact of the comb and cutter and consequently these comb and cutter teeth move with a point of contact continuously advancing throughout thethroats of the teeth during the relative turning of the cutter'to comb. It will also be noted' that the comb and cutter teeth, at the exposed or outer side of the razor, are beveled to lie in substantially"the same plane and also with reference to lthe `inclined outer surface of the guard 32 aaeaeoe so that there is a continuous smooth and substantially uninterrupted non-cutting surface for contact with the skin or flesh, and it is only the hairs which project from the surface that enter between the teeth 25 of the comb and iinally into the throats between the. cutter teeth 33 which are severed or lcut by the shearing action which takes place only in the plane of contact of the inner abutting faces of the comb and cutter.

When the razor is applied to the skin the rounded` or non-cutting exposed edges of the comb and cutter teeth only are brought into contact with the esh while the inner abutting or contacting shearing edges of the comb and cutter teeth are brought into close proximity to the esh incident to the beveled construction of the teeth so that the shearing or cutting action may take placeI immediately adjacent the extreme point or outer ends of the cutter teeth to shear the hairs close to the esh. The beveling of the superposed comb cutter and guard provides the gradual receding of the exposed portions of the teeth of the comb and cutter so as to bring the ilesh into close relation to the shearing edges without danger of injury to the eshbut at the same time to insure the close cutting of the hairs.

One of the advantages of this razor is to assemble it rapidly, all parts snapping together except the guard or nose, which, in the embodiment, is screwed on. The assembly of each razor is approximately one minute.l There is no soldering or fitting of parts.

It is obvious that various changes and modications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiments of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a motor-actuated razor, curved comb and razor cutter members mounted in parallel relation and having cooperative radial edge teeth in shearing contact on adjacent sides, the teeth of at least one of said members being cut on a transverse spiral and the teeth of both of said members being transversely beveled in continuity, to produce cooperative shearing edges on teeth which diminish in thickness outwardly thereof, with the free radial ends of the teeth of the cutter member adjacent the comb having substantially zero thickness.

2. A razor cutter comprising a circular bodyl having parallel sides and edge teeth spirally cut across the body between the sides, said teeth being beveled fromone side of the body toward the other across the pitch of the spiral cuts to produce on such beveled side angular cutting edges on teeth diminishing in thickness toward their outer free ends.

3. A razorcutter comprising a body having parallel side surfaces and edge-projecting teeth with surfacefrounded skin-engaging outer free ends, said teeth being curvingly cut across the body between said side surfaces and beveled from one side surface toward the other across the pitch of the spiral cuts to produce on such beveled side angular cutting edges on teeth gradually diminishing in thickness to said outer free ends.

4. A shaving machine carrying a nose cap in front of the machine, an actuable cutter behind the cap and a corn-b behind the cutter, said cap having a backwardly and outwardly sloping portion, peripheral edgeson the cutter and comb respectively forming a continuation of the backwardly and outwardly sloping portion of the cap and comprising spaced apart teeth formed on and between the cutter and comb for shearing hair entering between these parts, the spaces between the comb teeth being open through the back of the combior the reception of hair to be sheared, and said teeth throughrthe thickness I of the cutter and comb respectively being cut at an angular pitch to give keen cooperating cutting action and also self-sharpening action.

5. 1n a safety razer, a skin-contacting guard, a stationary skin-contacting member having edge teeth, and a rotatable skin-contacting member having edge teeth mounted between the guard and the stationary member for movement relative to the stationary member and over the skin, the outer skincontacting sides of the guard and members lying in substantially a common plane oblique to the axis of the rotatable member, the teeth of the rotatable member having their outer edge portions beveled in relation to the oblique plane to admit close proximity of the inner sides of the rotatable member to the skin when the razor is in use and the teeth of the rotatable member having dulled non-cutting edges at their outer sides to prevent injury'to the skin and having adjacent contacting flat surfaces terminating in cooperating shearing edges at the sides of the teeth for cutting hairs entering the throats of said teeth and the teeth of the stationary member by relative movement' between the members.

6. In a safety razor, a guard, a stationary member having edge teeth, and a skin-contacting movable member having edge teeth mounted between the guard and the stationary member for movement relative tothe` stationary member, the outer skin contacting sides of the guard and members in any transverse section lying in substantially a common plane oblique to the plane of movement of the movable member, said teeth having diagonally disposed throats and their outer edge portions being beveled, and said members having adjacent contacting flat surfaces terminating in cooperating shearing edges at the sides of the teeth for cutting hairs entering the throats of the teeth. I

'7. In a safety razor, a guard, a stationary member having edge teeth, and a skin contacting movable member having edge teeth mounted between the guard and the stationary member for movement relative to the stationary member, the outer skin-contacting sides of the guard and members in any transverse section lying in substantially a common plane oblique to the plane of movement of the movable member 'and having their outer edge portions beveled in relation to the oblique plane to admit close proximity of the inner sides of the movable member teeth to the skin when the razor is in use and the teeth of the members having dull, non-sharpened edges at their outer sides and having adjacent contacting nat surfaces terminating in cooperating shearing edges at the sides of the teeth for cutting hairs entering the throats of the teeth by relative movement between the members, correspondlng lateral sides of adjacent teeth of both cutting members upon alignment of the teeth being in a plane inclined to the cutting plane.

8. In a safety razor, a stationary skin contacting guard, a movable skin contacting member having teeth at,its edge and a stationary skin contacting member having edge-teeth, said guard and members being disposed'in superposed relation, the skin contacting surfaces of the guard, movable member, and stationary member in any transverse section beingin a plane to present a at skin contacting surface, the abutting `inner sides of the teeth of the members being nat and terminating in shearing edges for cutting hairs by a shearing action vupon relative y-rnovement between the teeth, corresponding lateral sides' of adjacent teeth of both cutting members upon alignment of the teeth beingin a plane inclined to the cutting plane.

9. A razor comprising a face-contacting cutter, a second cutter, each cutter having teeth with intervening spaces adapted to receive the hair to be cut, means for moving the face-contacting cutter, motor means, means vibrated by said motor means, and means translating the vibratory movement of said vibrated means into relatively slow movement of said cutter-moving means, said moving means, motor means, vibrated means, and translating means being substan tially axially arranged in respect to the plane of I movement of the moving cutter, whereby the face-contacting moving'cutter is subjected to a relatively low speed.

i0.' In a razor, the combination of aplurality vof spaced members each having at least three sides, a smooth uncutting side adapted to be placed upon the skin to be shaved and two sides having their planes intersecting to form a cutting edge, a second plurality of spaced members normally disposed upon said rst-named members and each having at least two sides, with their planes intersecting to form a cutting edge, all of said cutting edges being substantially in one and the same plane, and in spaced planes at an acutey angle thereto, and means moving the acute angle cutting edges of the members in respect to each other, whereby the cutting edgesy incline in respect to each other during their c'utting action. V

ll. A razoncomprising two discs contacting with veach other, each provided with a plurality lso of teeth having intervening spaces therebetween, said teeth extending outwardly from the peripheral circumference of said discs, the teeth and spaces of one disc registering with the teeth and spaces of the other disc when in non-cutting position, one side of each piurality of teeth forming skin-contacting surfaces in a conical surface the apex of which is inthe axis of rotation of said discs, and the two sides adjacentl said skin-contacting sides of each plurality of teeth being inclined to the plane of rotation of said teeth, said lateral sides of each plurality of Y teeth having cutting edges formed by the intersection of planes spaced apart a distance equal to the width. of the teeth, forming an acute angle with the plane of rotation of said teeth, means rotating one disc in respect to the other,

and comb portions on one set of lplurality of Ateeth extending beyond the cutting edges thereof, whereby the acute angle cutting edges of one plurality of teeth move scissor-like in shearing action against the acute angle cutting edges of the other set of plurality of teeth to cut hair entering the spaces between the teeth of both discs,

of which are intended to be out, said cutting edges forming with the skin-contacting side an acute angle, and said cutting edges extending to the apex of s aid angle,'a second member on the oir-skin side of said rst member and having cutting edges, the cutting edges of the respective members 'being inclined to each other during cutting action, means for moving the skin contacting member on the skin, andin respect to the second member to cut the hairs of the skin between the cutting edges, and extensions von the second member having skin contacting surfaces in the same plane which passes through the plane of the skin contacting side of the first member. l

- 13. A razor comprising a skin contacting member having cutting edges, and having a skin contacting side iiush with the skin, the hairs of which are intended Ato be cut, a second member on the oi-skin side of said first member and having cutting edges, the cutting edges of the respective members being inclined to each other during cutting action, and meansfor moving the skin contacting member on the skin and in respect to the second member, to cut the hairs of the skin between the cutting edges, extensions 25 faces merging to a common edge forming an apex, a lateral side surface forming with the bottom surface an acute angled cutting edge extending in said bottom surface to said apex, a second member having a plane surface substantially co-incident with said plane bottom surface of the first member and adapted to contact, therewith, a lateral side surface forming with said bottom surface, an acute angular cutting edge extending to said apex of the rst member, and means for moving the cutting edges relatively to each other, the cutting edges being so disposed in respect to each other when moving relatively to each other that they form an acute angle during their shearing action.

15. A razor comprising a movable skin contacting toothed member having top and bottom surfaces and cutting edges, the topv surface acting asa skin contacting side ush with the skin the hairs of which are intended to be cut, a stationary toothed second member on the off skin bottom surface of said rst member and having cutting edges in registration with cutting edges of the first member at standstill of the rst member, when the teeth are in registration with each other, the cutting edges of the respective members 'being inclined to each other during cutting action, and all of the cutting edges being substantially in one cutting edge an acute angle at the tip edge of the cutting u member, and means for moving the first skin contacting member on the skin, and in respect to the second member to cut the hairs of the sldn between the cutting edges, corresponding 5 lateral sides of adjacent teeth of both cutting members upon alignment of the teeth being in a plane inclined to the cutting plane.

16. In a razor, a cutting member having four sides, two lateral sides, a top side, and a bottom l side, the bottom side and one ofthe lateral sides forming a cutting edge extending to the end of the member, and the top side being in a plane forming with the plane passing through the bottom side an acute angle, the apex of which, l formed by the cutting of these two planes, merges with the aforesaid end of vthe cutting edge, said top side being adapted to contact with the skin combined with a second cutting member having five sides, two lateral sides, two top sides and a bottom side, the two top sides having one side parallel `with the bottom side of the iirst cutting member, and the other top side forming a skin contacting side and in the same plane as the plane passing through the top side of the rst cutting members, the bottom side of the first cutting member and the parallel top side of the second cutting member being in a plane, the lateral sides oi' both members forming cutting edges movable in a cutting plane '80 which is substantially coincident withthe plane passing through the bottom side of the rst cutting member and the parallel top side of the other cutting member, corresponding lateral sides of both cutting members upon alignment 85 thereof being in a plane inclined to the cutting plane.

17. In a razor, the combination of a cutting member having teeth each having top and bottom sides tapering to a converging end, and havo ing lateral sides, a cutting edge formed by the bottom side and one of the lateral sides and terminating at the converging end, said top side being adapted to contact with the skin, with a second cutter member having teeth each having a top side contacting with the bottom side of the teeth of the rst cutter member, and having lateral sides, and having a cutting edgeformed by one of said lateral sides with said top side, all of the cutting edges of the second cutter being substantially in the same cutting plane as the cutting edges of the first cutter, an extension beyond said top side of the teeth of the second cutter member and having a skin contacting side at an inclination to the top side and to the bottom side, the angle formed by the top side and inclined sidel being at the end of the cutting edge of the second cutter, said extension having lateral sides forming continuations of the lateral sides adjacent the top side, said inclined skin contacting side of the extension in any transverse section being in the same plane which passes through the top tapering side of the teeth of the first cutter member, corresponding lateral sides of adjacent teeth of both cutting members 465 upon alignment of the teeth being in a plane inclined to the cutting plane.

18. In a rami', a cutter member `having ve sides, a top side, a bottom side, two lateral sides, and a side inclined from the top to the bottom 7o side forming an apex, a cutting edge formed by one of the lateral sides and the bottom side, and terminating at the angle formed by the inclined side with the bottom side, the inclined side and the top side being adapted to contact with the skin, the bottom side with its cutting edge being in a cutting plane, and the lateral sides being at an angular pitch to the cutting plane.

19. In a razor, the combination of a cutting member having teeth each having bp and bottom sides tapering to a converging end, and 5 having lateral sides, a cutting edge formed by the bottom side and one of thek lateral sides and terminating at the converging end, said top side being adapted to contact with the skin, the cutting edges of the. teeth being in a cutting plane, lib and the lateral sides being inclined to said plane, with a second cutter member having teeth each having a top side contacting with the bottom side of the teeth of the first cutter member, and having lateral sides, and having a cutting edge 15 formed by one of said lateral sides with said top side, all of the cutting edges of the second cutter being substantially in the same cutting plane as the cutting edges of the rst cutter, the lateral sides being inclined to the cutting plane, an in- 2@ clined extension beyond said top side oi" the teeth of the second cutter member and having a skin contacting sideiat an inclination to the top side and to the bottom side, the top side and inclined side forming an angle at the end of the cutting 25 f edge of the second cutter, said extension-having lateral sides forming continuations of the lateral sides adjacent the top side, said inclined skin contacting side of the 'extension being in the same plane which passes through the top taper- 30 ing side of the teeth of the iirst cutter member, the lateral sides of the second cutter having the same angular pitch to the cutting plane as the lateral sides of the rst cutter.

20. In a safety razor, a guard, a stationary 35 member having teeth, and a skin contacting movable member having teeth mounted between. the guard and the stationary member .for movement relative to the stationary member, .the outer skin contacting sides of the guard and memd@ bers in any transverse section lying in substantially a common plane oblique to the plane of movement of the movable member to admit close proximity of the inner sides of the movable member teeth to the skin when the razor is in dd -use and the teeth of the members having dull, non-sharpened edges at their outer sides and having adjacent contacting flat surfaces terminating in cooperating shearing edges at the sides of the teeth for cutting hairs entering the throats d@ of the teeth by relative movement between the members, the lateral sides ofthe teeth of both members Ibeing at an angular pitch to the cutting plane, andthe teeth whenin registration in the same plane. y Y 55 21. In a safety razor, a stationary skin contacting guard, amovable skin contacting member having teeth at its edge and a stationary skin contacting member having teeth at its edge, said guard and members being disposed in superposed w relation, the skin contacting surfaces of the guard, movable member, and stationary member in any transverse section being in a single plane oblique `to the plane of movement of the movable 05 member to form a substantially linear contact withthe skin, the abutting inner sides of the teeth-of the members being fiat and terminating in shearing edges for cutting hairs by a shearing action upon relative movement of the teeth, the 7@ lateral sides of the teeth of both members being at an angular pitch to the cutting plane, and in the same plane when the teeth are in registra tion.

GEORGE R. BOTI. 75 

